Page 138 (1/2)

The first thing the old lady did was to go to an oak chest which was

in the roorunts and wheezes (for she

was eaten with rheumatism) she drew out a bundle done up in an old

shawl This she opened upon the floor

"I belonged to a great lady once," said she, "though I don't look like

it, my dear These fal-lals have been over as dainty a body as your

own in their day; and that was fifteen years ago to a tick She gave

'eo to my

son's wife Think of that, you who colove, let me eat 'em"

There were silks and daauzes blue and green, Daold from

Samarcand, crimson stuffs dipped in Syrian vats, rose-coloured silk

from Trebizond, and eloith the hues of Byzantiuirl shed her rags, and stood up at last in a gown of

thin red silk, which fro close about her shape

The dark beauty went imperially robed

"Wait a bit," said her dresser; "we'll look at you presently when you

are shod and coifed to fit"

She gave her a pair of red stockings and Moorish slippers for her

feet; she massed up her black hair into a tower upon her head, and

roped it about with a chain of sequins which had served their last